System and method for vehicle control using human body communication

• US 8,600,581 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Jong Bok
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US13/361,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 340/5.2, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 340/426.11, 340/500, 340/531, 340/573.1, 700/245, 726 26- 28
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A mobile terminal capable of performing a human body communication is provided. The mobile terminal includes an authentication information storage unit, a control unit, and a human body communication unit. The authentication information storage unit stores authentication information of each authentication level. The control unit transmits authentication information of a preset authentication level to a human body communication unit when a communication path is established between the human body communication unit and a vehicle control apparatus externally located. The human body communication unit transmits the authentication information received from the control unit to the vehicle control apparatus.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus capable of performing a human body communication, the vehicle control apparatus comprising:

an authentication information storage unit configured to store authentication information of each authentication level and control information of a corresponding authentication level;

a human body communication unit configured to receive the authentication information from a mobile terminal by using a human body as a medium;

an authentication unit configured to authenticate a validity of the authentication information received by the human body communication unit based on the authentication information storage unit; and

a vehicle control unit configured to control a corresponding device of a vehicle based on the control information of the corresponding authentication level according to an authentication result of the authentication unit.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to automatically lock a vehicle door after a certain period of time upon detecting that a vehicle engine is stopped and a driver alights from the vehicle.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the human body communication unit comprises:

a human body contact point installed on a vehicle door handle and configured to receive an electrical signal from the mobile terminal by using the human body as the medium;

a human body communication receiver configured to convert the electrical signal received through the human body contact point into the authentication information; and

a data receiver configured to receive the authentication information from the human body communication receiver.

4. A vehicle control method using a human body communication, the vehicle control method comprising:

storing, by a storage unit on a vehicle control device, authentication information of each authentication level and control information of a corresponding authentication level;

receiving, by the vehicle control device, the authentication information from a mobile terminal by using a human body as a medium;

authenticating, by the vehicle control device, a validity of the received authentication information based on the stored authentication information; and

controlling, by the vehicle control device, a corresponding device of a vehicle based on the control information of the corresponding authentication level according to an authentication result.

5. The vehicle control method according to claim 4, further comprising:

automatically locking a vehicle door after a certain period of time upon detecting a vehicle engine is shut down and a driver alights from the vehicle.

6. The vehicle control method according to claim 4, wherein the receiving of the authentication information comprises:

receiving an electrical signal from the mobile terminal by using the human body as the medium;

converting the received electrical signal into the authentication information; and

receiving the converted authentication information.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that store authentication information of each authentication level and control information of a corresponding authentication level;

program instructions that interpret the authentication information received from a mobile terminal by using a human body as a medium;

program instructions that authenticate a validity of the received authentication information based on the stored authentication information; and

program instructions that control a corresponding device of a vehicle based on the control information of the corresponding authentication level according to an authentication result.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions that automatically locking a vehicle door after a certain period of time upon detecting a vehicle engine is shut down and a driver alights from the vehicle.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the program instructions that interpret the authentication information received from a mobile terminal further comprise:

program instructions that interpret an electrical signal from the mobile terminal by using the human body as the medium; and

program instructions that convert the received electrical signal into the authentication information; and

program instructions that validate the converted authentication information.